Because how could you “urge the President and all the branches of government to take the lead in combating corruption wherever it is found” when her husband has been repeatedly accused of corruption?

I couldn’t help recalling my reaction to CBCP’s statement rejecting the impeachment process against Arroyo in 2005:

“I don’t want to believe that the leaders of the Catholic Church I grew up with — the Church that teaches faith, hope and love — have abandoned the hope that we can have a better nation and lost faith in the possibility of reform based on justice.”

I was actually thinking of almost the same title for a post, but you got to it first hehe.

I’m rather confused with the position of the Church this time. Very indecisive, which is more worrisome because in the previous controversial issues, the Church had been very clear to what its stand is. I think this current indecisiveness bodes a dark and uncertain future, which is truly disappointing, I think, at least, for the majority of those who’re looking up to them for guidance. I’m not a big Church fan, but I’ve to admit it’s a very strong force in the country.

The Church does not have to be explicit in terms of their position on the corruption matter. They do not have to name the bad guys. They could only tell the laity what is right and wrong based on the gospel, based on Christ’s teachings and on Catholic dogmas. Maybe we see this as being “lukewarm” towards government issues, but we should not point at anyone to assume responsibility and “tell” us what to do because it is nobody’s fault but the people who put these officials in power and the fact that despite their corruption, they are still in power. The Church is supposed to “guide” us, not tell us what to do.

We all condemn corruption in the government and perhaps join rallies and speak our mind on what should be done. But still we give bribes to police and we pay our way out of traffic violations, give a little money to have some papers processed and we call this as part of our lives, part of the way things are done in the country. And yet, we are quick to condemn the Catholic Church of not speaking out strongly against the people who are accused of corruption.

You like to join rallies and wear red as if this is a “cool” thing to do, and yet you don’t volunteer enough to get bums out of the street or teach kids in remote areas where there may not be any schools. But hey, they are somehow “invisible” to us and their concerns are not part of the so-called elite force that is taking part in the current rallies in Makati. You call yourself socially-concerned, socially-aware, and yet you support a healthcare system that advocates care only for the moneyed and the elite who can afford basic healthcare needs. You like to take part in corruption investigations and yet nobody takes part in anti-poverty rallies. This is the kind of mentality that is so prevalent in the Filipinos.

The statement made by the courageous one at #8 who didn’t give his/her name no doubt raises issues worth considering. Unfortunately, its legitimate points are drowned by the sweeping nature of his/her comment as a whole.

While it is true that many in the Philippines have their own part in perpetuating corruption by engaging in petty versions of it like bribing policemen and paying fixers, it defies logic to assail all participants of the present anti-Arroyo rallies by presuming that they all engage in the petty corruption which he/she so eloquently lambastes. It likewise defies logic to presume that all ralliers against corruption today are remiss in terms of other forms of civic work, or that they all “support a healthcare system that advocates care only for the moneyed and the elite who can afford basic healthcare needs.”

And for his/her information, a large portion of those taking part in the current anti-corruption rallies have also taken part in past anti-poverty rallies spearheaded by workers’ and peasant groups.

Since he/she brought the issue up, I am interested in any and all specific contributions he/she has made toward keeping bums off the streets and teaching kids in remote areas where there are no schools — the lack of which he/she is so quick to assail most everyone in the present protest actions against corruption. I might even be able to write an article featuring him/her as one of a “unique breed” of modern Filipino heroes.

“and we call this as part of our lives, part of the way things are done in the country.”

sino yung we?

“You like to join rallies and wear red as if this is a “cool” thing to do, and yet you don’t volunteer enough to get bums out of the street or teach kids in remote areas where there may not be any schools.”

Please answer issues raised in the post. If I were a balut vendor, would my views be taken the same as if I would tell you I am a Senator?

This simple truth some Filipinos cannot grasp.

You live in a society where your taxes go to the government who supports corrupt leaders. You pay taxes knowing THERE ARE NO BENEFITS WHATSOEVER. Isn’t that supporting corrupt systems? If the Filipinos have done their job to eradicate poverty, not just walking in the streets with placards, do you think the Philippines would be a thirld world country?